Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

 

Or

 

o  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                        to

 

Commission file number: 000-49799

 

OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

87-0634302

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

 

6350 South 3000 East

Salt Lake City, Utah 84121

(Address, including zip code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (801) 947-3100

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the act).  Yes o  No x

 

There were 23,420,641 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001, outstanding on April 23, 2012.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Signature

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

Overstock.com, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

72,105

 

$

96,985

 

Restricted cash

 

2,053

 

2,036

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

11,941

 

13,501

 

Inventories, net

 

16,645

 

22,993

 

Prepaid inventories, net

 

1,910

 

1,027

 

Prepaids and other assets

 

9,140

 

12,651

 

Total current assets

 

113,794

 

149,193

 

Fixed assets, net

 

23,345

 

25,322

 

Goodwill

 

2,784

 

2,784

 

Other long-term assets, net

 

1,792

 

2,260

 

Total assets

 

$

141,715

 

$

179,559

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

42,804

 

$

70,332

 

Accrued liabilities

 

36,127

 

47,902

 

Deferred revenue

 

26,814

 

27,978

 

Line of credit

 

17,000

 

17,000

 

Capital lease obligations, current

 

33

 

110

 

Total current liabilities

 

122,778

 

163,322

 

Capital lease obligations, non-current

 

2

 

2

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

2,630

 

2,998

 

Total liabilities

 

125,410

 

166,322

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value:

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized shares - 5,000

 

 

 

 

 

Issued and outstanding shares - none

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized shares - 100,000

 

 

 

 

 

Issued shares - 26,450 and 26,241

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares - 23,420 and 23,279

 

2

 

2

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

354,181

 

353,368

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(259,046

)

(261,765

)

Treasury stock:

 

 

 

 

 

Shares at cost - 3,030 and 2,962

 

(78,832

)

(78,368

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

16,305

 

13,237

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

141,715

 

$

179,559

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Overstock.com, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three months ended
March  31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue, net

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

40,897

 

$

48,161

 

Fulfillment partner

 

221,470

 

217,309

 

Total net revenue

 

262,367

 

265,470

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

 

 

 

Direct(1)

 

37,630

 

43,030

 

Fulfillment partner

 

177,229

 

172,356

 

Total cost of goods sold

 

214,859

 

215,386

 

Gross profit

 

47,508

 

50,084

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing(1)

 

14,475

 

15,425

 

Technology(1)

 

15,638

 

16,660

 

General and administrative(1)

 

14,822

 

17,986

 

Restructuring

 

98

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

45,033

 

50,071

 

Operating income

 

2,475

 

13

 

Interest income

 

29

 

52

 

Interest expense

 

(208

)

(676

)

Other income, net

 

432

 

189

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

2,728

 

(422

)

Provision for income taxes

 

9

 

22

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,719

 

$

(444

)

Deemed dividend related to redeemable common stock

 

—  

 

                (10

)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

 

$

2,719

 

$

(454

)

Net income (loss) per common share—basic:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares—basic

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.02

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

 

23,392

 

23,215

 

Net income (loss) per common share—diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares—diluted

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.02

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

 

23,414

 

23,215

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

2,719

 

$

(444

)


 

(1) Includes stock-based compensation as follows (Note 7):

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold — direct

 

$

60

 

$

42

 

Sales and marketing

 

101

 

106

 

Technology

 

176

 

189

 

General and administrative

 

476

 

539

 

Total

 

$

813

 

$

876

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Overstock.com, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

Paid-in

 

Accumulated

 

Treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Total

 

Balances at December 31, 2011

 

26,241

 

$

2

 

$

353,368

 

$

(261,765

)

2,962

 

$

(78,368

)

$

13,237

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

2,719

 

 

 

2,719

 

Stock-based compensation to employees and directors

 

 

 

813

 

 

 

 

813

 

Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock

 

209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

 

68

 

(464

)

(464

)

Balance at March 31, 2012

 

26,450

 

$

2

 

$

354,181

 

$

(259,046

)

3,030

 

$

(78,832

)

$

16,305

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Overstock.com, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

Twelve months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,719

 

$

(444

)

$

(16,275

)

$

9,715

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,034

 

3,999

 

16,385

 

15,485

 

Realized gain from sale of marketable securities

 

(7

)

 

(7

)

 

Loss on disposition of fixed asset

 

85

 

 

85

 

 

Stock-based compensation to employees and directors

 

813

 

876

 

2,988

 

4,717

 

Amortization of deferred loan costs and debt discount

 

35

 

34

 

128

 

322

 

(Gain) loss from early extinguishment of debt

 

 

27

 

1,226

 

(319

)

Restructuring charges (reversals)

 

98

 

 

98

 

(433

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

 

(17

)

159

 

330

 

646

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

1,560

 

5,679

 

(4,060

)

530

 

Inventories, net

 

6,348

 

11,951

 

3,518

 

(522

)

Prepaid inventories, net

 

(883

)

296

 

(124

)

1,684

 

Prepaids and other assets

 

3,156

 

1,119

 

1,581

 

106

 

Other long-term assets, net

 

694

 

290

 

244

 

1,101

 

Accounts payable

 

(27,587

)

(28,029

)

3,386

 

724

 

Accrued liabilities

 

(12,211

)

(3,307

)

(1,952

)

755

 

Deferred revenue

 

(1,164

)

(1,908

)

4,695

 

924

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

93

 

30

 

411

 

(175

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

(22,234

)

(9,228

)

12,657

 

35,260

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of marketable securities

 

(38

)

(39

)

(159

)

(145

)

Purchases of intangible assets

 

 

 

(4

)

(396

)

Sale of marketable securities

 

117

 

 

117

 

 

Investment in precious metals

 

 

 

 

(1,657

)

Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development

 

(2,127

)

(1,676

)

(9,192

)

(17,721

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(2,048

)

(1,715

)

(9,238

)

(19,919

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on capital lease obligations

 

(77

)

(72

)

(735

)

(509

)

Drawdowns on line of credit

 

 

 

17,000

 

 

Capitalized financing costs

 

 

 

(140

)

 

Proceeds from finance obligations

 

 

 

1,429

 

16,383

 

Payments on finance obligations

 

 

(979

)

(23,939

)

(1,820

)

Paydown on direct financing arrangement

 

(57

)

(52

)

(221

)

(201

)

Payments to retire convertible senior notes

 

 

(10,110

)

(24,505

)

(34,975

)

Purchase of redeemable stock

 

 

 

 

(26

)

Purchase of treasury stock

 

(464

)

(1,589

)

(479

)

(1,622

)

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

1,503

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(598

)

(12,802

)

(31,590

)

(21,267

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(24,880

)

(23,745

)

(28,171

)

(5,926

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

96,985

 

124,021

 

100,276

 

106,202

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

72,105

 

$

100,276

 

$

72,105

 

$

100,276

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

149

 

$

376

 

$

2,142

 

$

2,838

 

Taxes paid

 

2

 

260

 

2

 

302

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development, costs financed through accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

121

 

$

76

 

$

12

 

$

(3,976

)

Equipment acquired under finance obligations

 

 

545

 

4,532

 

1,144

 

Equipment and software acquired under capital lease obligations

 

 

 

 

6

 

Lapse of rescission rights of redeemable stock

 

 

184

 

398

 

444

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Overstock.com, Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

As used herein, “Overstock.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Overstock.com, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited annual consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in our opinion, necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods presented. Preparing financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts that are reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures. Although these estimates are based on our best knowledge of current events and actions that we may undertake in the future, actual results may be different from the estimates. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period or the full fiscal year.

 

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, investment valuation, receivables valuation, revenue recognition, sales returns, incentive discount offers, inventory valuation, depreciable lives of fixed assets and internally-developed software, goodwill valuation, intangible valuation, income taxes, stock-based compensation, performance-based compensation, restructuring liabilities and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

Cash equivalents

 

We classify all highly liquid instruments, including money market funds with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase, as cash equivalents. Cash equivalents were $47.1 million and $81.2 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Restricted cash

 

We consider cash that is legally restricted and cash that is held as a compensating balance for letter of credit arrangements as restricted cash. Restricted cash was $2.1 million and $2.0 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and was held primarily in money market accounts.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

 

Our financial instruments, including cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. We are party to a Financing Agreement with U.S. Bank dated December 22, 2009 (as amended to date, the “Financing Agreement”). Our Financing Agreement is also carried at face value, which approximates its fair value due to its variable interest rate.

 

We account for our assets and liabilities using a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair-value hierarchy:

 

·                  Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

 

·                  Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are

 

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observable in active markets; and

 

·                  Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

 

This hierarchy requires us to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when determining fair value.

 

The fair value of these financial instruments was determined using the following levels of inputs as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at March 31, 2012:

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents and restricted cash - Money market mutual funds

 

$

49,154

 

$

49,154

 

$

 

$

 

Trading securities held in a “rabbi trust” (1)

 

249

 

249

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

49,403

 

$

49,403

 

$

 

$

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring Accrual (2)

 

$

98

 

$

 

$

 

$

98

 

Deferred compensation accrual “rabbi trust” (3)

 

242

 

242

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

$

340

 

$

242

 

$

 

$

98

 

 

The fair value of these financial instruments was determined using the following levels of inputs as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents and restricted cash - Money market mutual funds

 

$

83,195

 

$

83,195

 

$

 

$

 

Trading securities held in a “rabbi trust” (1)

 

302

 

302

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

83,497

 

$

83,497

 

$

 

$

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation accrual “rabbi trust” (3)

 

302

 

302

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

$

302

 

$

302

 

$

 

$

 

 


(1)  — Trading securities held in a rabbi trust are included in Other current and long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets

 

(2)  — The fair value was determined based on the income approach, in which we used internal cash flow projections over the life of the underlying lease agreements discounted based on a credit adjusted risk-free rate of return. See the roll forward related to the restructuring accrual at Note 3—Restructuring Expense.

 

(3)  — Non qualified deferred compensation for rabbi trust is included in Accrued liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Restricted investments

 

In December 2009, we implemented a Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “NQDC Plan”) for senior management. Deferred compensation amounts are invested in mutual funds held in a “rabbi trust” and are restricted for payment to the participants of the NQDC Plan. We account for our investments held in the trust in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 320 “Investments — Debt and Equity Securities”. The investments held in the trust are classified as trading securities. The fair value of the investments held in the trust totaled $249,000 at March 31, 2012 and are included in Other current and long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Our gains and losses on these investments were immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

Accounts receivable

 

Accounts receivable consist primarily of trade amounts due from customers and from uncleared credit card transactions at period end. Accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts and do not bear interest.

 

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Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

From time to time, we grant credit to some of our business customers on normal credit terms (typically 30 days). We perform credit evaluations of our business customers’ financial condition and payment history and maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable based upon our historical collection experience and expected collectability of accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts receivable was $558,000 and $574,000 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Concentration of credit risk

 

Cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid instruments with maturities at date of purchase of three months or less. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, two banks held the majority of our cash and cash equivalents. We do not believe that, as a result of this concentration, we are subject to any unusual financial risk beyond the normal risk associated with commercial banking relationships.

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and receivables. We invest our cash primarily in money market securities which are uninsured.

 

Our accounts receivable are derived primarily from revenue earned from customers located in the United States. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectability of accounts receivable.

 

Valuation of inventories

 

Inventories, consisting of merchandise purchased for resale, are accounted for using a standard costing system which approximates the first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) method of accounting, and are valued at the lower of cost or market. We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence and to lower of cost or market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Once established, the original cost of the inventory less the related inventory allowance represents the new cost basis of such products. Reversal of the allowance is recognized only when the related inventory has been sold or scrapped.

 

Prepaid inventories, net

 

Prepaid inventories represent inventories paid for in advance of receipt. Prepaid inventories were $1.9 million and $1.0 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Prepaids and other assets

 

Prepaids and other assets represent expenses paid prior to receipt of the related goods or services, including advertising, license fees, maintenance, packaging, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs, as well as investments in precious metals. Total prepaids and other assets were $9.1 million and $12.7 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Fixed assets

 

Fixed assets, which include assets such as technology infrastructure, internal-use software, website development, furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements, are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or the term of the related capital lease, whichever is shorter, as follows:

 

 

 

Life
(years)

 

Computer software

 

2-3

 

Computer hardware

 

3

 

Furniture and equipment

 

3-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the related leases or estimated useful lives.

 

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Depreciation and amortization expense is classified within the corresponding operating expense categories on the consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cost of goods sold - direct

 

$

108

 

$

229

 

Technology

 

3,598

 

3,481

 

General and administrative

 

328

 

289

 

Total depreciation and amortization, including internal-use software and website development

 

$

4,034

 

$

3,999

 

 

Internal-use software and website development

 

Included in fixed assets is the capitalized cost of internal-use software and website development, including software used to upgrade and enhance our Website and processes supporting our business. We capitalize costs incurred during the application development stage of internal-use software and amortize these costs over the estimated useful life of two to three years. Costs incurred related to design or maintenance of internal-use software are expensed as incurred.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we capitalized $1.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of costs associated with internal-use software and website development, both developed internally and acquired externally. Amortization of costs associated with internal-use software and website development was $2.2 million and $1.8 million for those respective periods.

 

Revenue recognition

 

We derive our revenue primarily from two sources: direct revenue and fulfillment partner revenue, including listing fees and commissions collected from products being listed and sold through our cars listing business, and from advertising on our shopping, travel and insurance pages. We have organized our operations into two principal segments based on the primary source of revenue: direct revenue and fulfillment partner revenue (see Note 8—Business Segments).

 

Revenue is recognized when the following revenue recognition criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or the service has been provided; (3) the selling price or fee revenue earned is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue related to merchandise sales is recognized upon delivery to our customers. As we ship high volumes of packages through multiple carriers, it is not practical for us to track the actual delivery date of each shipment. Therefore, we use estimates to determine which shipments are delivered and, therefore, recognized as revenue at the end of the period. Our delivery date estimates are based on average shipping transit times, which are calculated using the following factors: (i) the type of shipping carrier (as carriers have different in-transit times); (ii) the fulfillment source (either our warehouses or those of our fulfillment partners); (iii) the delivery destination; and (iv) actual transit time experience, which shows that delivery date is typically one to eight business days from the date of shipment. We review and update our estimates on a quarterly basis based on our actual transit time experience. However, actual shipping times may differ from our estimates.

 

We evaluate the criteria outlined in ASC Topic 605-45, Principal Agent Considerations, in determining whether it is appropriate to record the gross amount of product sales and related costs or the net amount earned as commissions. When we are the primary obligor in a transaction, are subject to inventory risk, have latitude in establishing prices and selecting suppliers, or have several but not all of these indicators, revenue is recorded gross. If we are not the primary obligor in the transaction and amounts earned are determined using a fixed percentage, revenue is recorded on a net basis. Currently, the majority of both direct revenue and fulfillment partner revenue is recorded on a gross basis, as we are the primary obligor. We present revenue net of sales taxes.

 

We periodically provide incentive offers to our customers to encourage purchases. Such offers include current discount offers, such as percentage discounts off current purchases and other similar offers, which, when used by customers, are treated as a reduction of revenue.

 

Based upon our historical experience, revenue typically increases during the fourth quarter because of the holiday retail season.

 

Direct revenue

 

Direct revenue is derived from merchandise sales to individual consumers and businesses that are fulfilled from our leased warehouses. Direct revenue comes from sales that occur primarily through our Website, but may also occur through offline channels.

 

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Fulfillment partner revenue

 

Fulfillment partner revenue is derived from merchandise sales through our Website which fulfillment partners ship directly to consumers and businesses from warehouses maintained by our fulfillment partners.

 

Fulfillment partner revenue also includes revenue from our other businesses, which include our online site for listing cars for sale, our travel shopping site, our insurance shopping site, our consignment service to suppliers, our online auction site (which was removed from our site in July 2011) and our online site for listing real estate for sale (which was removed from our site in June 2011). Revenue from our other businesses is less than 1% of total net revenues.

 

Club O loyalty program

 

We have a customer loyalty program called Club O for which we sell annual memberships. We record membership fees as deferred revenue and we recognize revenue ratably over the membership period. The Club O loyalty program allows members to earn reward dollars for qualifying purchases made on our Website. We also have a co-branded credit card program (see “Co-branded credit card revenue” below for more information). Co-branded cardholders are also Club O members and earn additional reward dollars for purchases made on our Website, and from other merchants. Reward dollars earned may be redeemed on future purchases made through our Website. Club O reward dollars expire 90 days after the customer’s Club O membership expires. We account for these transactions as multiple element arrangements and allocate value to the elements using their relative fair values. We include the value of reward dollars earned in deferred revenue and we record it as a reduction of revenue at the time the reward dollars are earned.

 

We recognize revenue for Club O reward dollars when: (i) customers redeem their reward dollars as part of a purchase at our Website, (ii) reward dollars expire or (iii) the likelihood of reward dollars being redeemed by a customer is remote (“reward dollar breakage”). Due to the loyalty program’s short history, currently no reward dollar breakage is recognized until the reward dollars expire. However, in the future we plan to recognize such breakage based upon historical redemption patterns.

 

In instances where customers receive free Club O reward dollars not associated with any purchases, we account for these transactions as sales incentives such as coupons and record a reduction of revenue at the time the reward dollars are redeemed.

 

Co-branded credit card program

 

In March 2010, we entered into a co-branded credit card agreement with a commercial bank for the issuance of credit cards bearing the Overstock.com brand, under which the bank pays us fees for new accounts and for customer usage of the cards. The agreement also provides for a customer loyalty program offering reward points that customers will accrue from card usage and can use to make purchases on our Website (See “Club O loyalty program” above for more information). We launched this co-branded card in September 2010. New account fees are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the credit card relationship. Credit card usage fees are recognized as revenues as actual credit card usage occurs.

 

Deferred revenue

 

Customer orders are recorded as deferred revenue prior to delivery of products or services ordered. We record amounts received for Club O membership fees as deferred revenue and we recognize it ratably over the membership period. We record Club O reward dollars earned from purchases as deferred revenue at the time they are earned and we recognize it as revenue upon redemption. If reward dollars are not redeemed, we recognize revenue upon expiration. In addition, we sell gift cards and record related deferred revenue at the time of the sale. We sell gift cards without expiration dates and we recognize revenue from a gift card upon redemption of the gift card. If a gift card is not redeemed, we recognize income when the likelihood of its redemption becomes remote based on our historical redemption experience. We consider the likelihood of redemption to be remote after 36 months.

 

Sales returns allowance

 

We inspect returned items when they arrive at our processing facility. We refund the full cost of the merchandise returned and all original shipping charges if the returned item is defective or we or our fulfillment partners have made an error, such as shipping the wrong product.

 

If the return is not a result of a product defect or a fulfillment error and the customer initiates a return of an unopened item within 30 days of delivery, for most products we refund the full cost of the merchandise minus the original shipping charge and actual return shipping fees. However, we reduce refunds for returns initiated more than 30 days after delivery or that are received at our returns processing facility more than 45 days after initial delivery.

 

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If our customer returns an item that has been opened or shows signs of wear, we issue a partial refund minus the original shipping charge and actual return shipping fees.

 

Revenue is recorded net of estimated returns. We record an allowance for returns based on current period revenues and historical returns experience. We analyze actual historical returns, current economic trends and changes in order volume and acceptance of our products when evaluating the adequacy of the sales returns allowance in any accounting period.

 

The allowance for returns was $6.3 million and $10.9 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 respectively. The decrease in allowance for returns at March 31, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011 is primarily due to decreased revenues due to seasonality.

 

Credit card chargeback allowance

 

Revenue is recorded net of credit card chargebacks. We maintain an allowance for credit card chargebacks based on current period revenues and historical chargeback experience. The allowance for chargebacks was $140,000 and $187,000 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Cost of goods sold

 

Cost of goods sold includes product costs, warehousing costs, outbound shipping costs, handling and fulfillment costs, customer service costs and credit card fees, and is recorded in the same period in which related revenues have been recorded. Cost of goods sold, including product cost and other costs and fulfillment and related costs are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Total revenue, net

 

$

262,367

 

100

%

$

265,470

 

100

%

Cost of goods sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product costs and other cost of goods sold

 

201,793

 

77

%

201,260

 

76

%

Fulfillment and related costs

 

13,066

 

5

%

14,126

 

5

%

Total cost of goods sold

 

214,859

 

82

%

215,386

 

81

%

Gross profit

 

$

47,508

 

18

%

$

50,084

 

19

%

 

Advertising expense

 

We expense the costs of producing advertisements the first time the advertising takes place and expense the cost of communicating advertising in the period during which the advertising space or airtime is used. Internet advertising expenses are recognized as incurred based on the terms of the individual agreements, which are generally: 1) a commission for traffic driven to the Website that generates a sale or 2) a referral fee based on the number of clicks on keywords or links to our Website generated during a given period. Advertising expense is included in sales and marketing expenses and totaled $12.5 million and $12.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Prepaid advertising, which consists primarily of prepaid advertising airtime, (included in Prepaids and other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets) was $992,000 and $1.4 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

We measure compensation expense for all outstanding unvested share-based awards at fair value on date of grant and recognize compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest on a straight line basis. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results differ from estimates, such amounts will be recorded as an adjustment in the period estimates are revised. We consider many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, and historical experience. Actual results may differ substantially from these estimates (see Note 7—Stock-Based Awards).

 

Loss contingencies

 

In the normal course of business, we are involved in legal proceedings and other potential loss contingencies. We accrue a liability for such matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. When only a range of possible loss can be estimated, the most probable amount in the range is accrued. If no amount within this range is a better estimate than any other amount within the range, the minimum amount in the range is accrued. We expense legal fees as incurred.

 

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Restructuring

 

Restructuring expenses are primarily comprised of lease termination costs. ASC Topic 420, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, requires that when an entity ceases using a property that is leased under an operating lease before the end of the contractual term, the termination costs should be recognized and measured at fair value when the entity ceases using the facility. Key assumptions in determining the restructuring expenses include the terms that may be negotiated to exit certain contractual obligations (see Note 3—Restructuring Expense).

 

Income taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.

 

Deferred tax assets are evaluated for future realization and are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. We consider many factors when assessing the likelihood of future realization of our deferred assets including expectations of future taxable income, the carry-forward periods available for tax reporting purposes, the reversals of our deferred tax liabilities and tax planning strategies, to the extent available. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we have a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets, net of expected reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, as we believe it is more likely than not that these benefits will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in making this assessment, and it is very difficult to predict when, if ever, our assessment may conclude that the remaining portion of the deferred tax assets are realizable.

 

Earnings (loss) per share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common shares for the period by the weighted average number of common and potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares, comprising incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, restricted stock awards and convertible senior notes are included in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share to the extent such shares are dilutive.

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

2,719

 

$

(444

)

Deemed dividend related to redeemable common stock

 

 

(10

)

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares

 

$

2,719

 

$

(454

)

Net income (loss) per common share—basic:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares—basic

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.02

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic

 

23,392

 

23,215

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options and restricted stock awards

 

22

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted

 

23,414

 

23,215

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common shares—diluted

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.02

)

 

The following shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted shares outstanding as their effect would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Stock options and restricted stock awards

 

1,375

 

1,099

 

Convertible senior notes

 

 

321

 

 

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3. RESTRUCTURING EXPENSE

 

During the fourth quarter of 2006, we began a facilities consolidation and restructuring program designed to reduce the overall expense structure in an effort to improve future operating performance. The facilities consolidation and restructuring program was substantially completed by the end of the second quarter of 2007.

 

Restructuring liabilities along with charges (credits) to expense and payments associated with the facilities consolidation and restructuring program are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Balance at

 

Accretion

 

Net Cash

 

 

 

Balance at

 

 

 

12/31/2011

 

Expense

 

Payments

 

Adjustments

 

3/31/2012

 

Lease and contract termination costs

 

$

1,491

 

$

39

 

$

(115

)

$

98

 

$

1,513

 

 

We incurred $98,000 of lease termination costs liability during the three months ended March 31, 2012 due to changes in the estimate of sublease income as a result of our entering into a revised agreement with a sublessee and ceasing the use of one our office facilities. There were no restructuring charges or reversals during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

 

4. BORROWINGS

 

U.S. Bank Financing Agreements

 

We are a party to a Financing Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) dated December 22, 2009 (as amended to date, the “Financing Agreement”). The maximum credit potentially available under the revolving facility is $20 million. Our obligations under the Financing Agreement and all related agreements are secured by all or substantially all of our assets, excluding our interest in certain litigation. Subject to certain exceptions, the full amount of the revolving facility is expected to be available to us as long as $20 million in the aggregate is maintained on deposit with U.S. Bank. At March 31, 2012 and at the date of this report we maintain $20 million on deposit with U.S. Bank. The obligation of U.S. Bank to make advances under the Financing Agreement is subject to the conditions set forth in the Financing Agreement.

 

Our failure to keep at least $20 million on deposit in certain accounts with U.S. Bank would constitute a “triggering event” under the Financing Agreement. If a triggering event occurs, we would become subject to financial covenants (i) limiting our capital expenditures to $20 million annually, and (ii) requiring us to maintain a Financing Agreement defined fixed charges coverage ratio of at least 1.10 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter for the period of the prior four quarters. The occurrence of a triggering event could also result in a decrease in the amount available to us under the non cash-collateralized portion of the facility, as availability would then depend, in part, on the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Financing Agreement).

 

The stated termination date of the Financing Agreement is December 31, 2012. The maximum amount potentially available under the Financing Agreement is $20 million, limited to $3 million for cash-collateralized letters of credit and other financial accommodations, and $17 million for advances supported by our non-cash collateral.

 

Advances under the Financing Agreement bear interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.5%. The interest rate for borrowings under the Financing Agreement was 2.75% at March 31, 2012. We have also entered into an interest rate cap agreement with U.S. Bank with an effective date of October 1, 2011 limiting our exposure for one-month LIBOR at 0.5% for the term of the Financing Agreement.

 

The Financing Agreement includes affirmative covenants and negative covenants that prohibit a variety of actions without the approval of U.S. Bank, including, without limitation, covenants that (subject to certain exceptions) limit our ability to (a) incur or guarantee debt or enter into indemnity agreements, (b) create or permit liens, (c) enter into any merger or consolidation or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets of another person or the assets comprising any line of business or business unit of another person, (d) except for permitted acquisitions, purchase the securities of, create, invest in, or form any subsidiary (other than permitted subsidiaries) or other entity, (e) make loans or advances, (f) purchase, acquire or redeem shares of our capital stock or other securities, (g) change our capital structure or issue any new class of capital stock, (h) change our business objectives, purposes or operations in a manner which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, (i) change our fiscal year, (j) enter into transactions with affiliates (other than in connection with allowed intercompany transactions), (k) sell assets except for the sale of inventory or equipment in the ordinary course of business, (l) permit judgments to be rendered against us in excess of certain limits or having specified effects, depending in part on whether a triggering event has occurred or would occur, (m) take certain actions regarding our receivables, and (n) take certain actions regarding our inventory.

 

Amounts outstanding under the Financing Agreement were $17.0 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and letters of credit totaling $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, were issued on our behalf collateralized by compensating cash

 

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balances held at U.S. Bank, which are included in Restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At March 31, 2012, we had $20.0 million in compensating cash balances held at U.S. Bank. If we draw on the $20.0 million compensating cash balance, it will constitute a triggering event and result in additional and more restrictive covenants.

 

U.S. Bank Commercial Purchasing Card Agreement

 

We have a commercial purchasing card (the “Purchasing Card”) agreement with U.S. Bank. We use the Purchasing Card for business purpose purchasing and must pay it in full each month. At March 31, 2012, $3.1 million was outstanding and $1.9 million was available under the Purchasing Card. At December 31, 2011, $3.4 million was outstanding and $1.6 million was available under the Purchasing Card.

 

Capital leases

 

We have leased certain software and computer equipment, under non-cancelable leases that expire on various dates through 2013.

 

Fixed assets included assets under capital leases of $1.7 million and accumulated depreciation of $1.6 million and $1.5 million, at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Depreciation expense of assets recorded under capital leases was $129,000 and $145,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Future payments of capital lease obligations as of March 31, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Payments due by period

 

 

 

2012 (remainder)

 

$

34

 

2013

 

3

 

Total minimum lease payments

 

37

 

Less: amount representing interest

 

2

 

Present value of capital lease obligations

 

35

 

Less: current portion

 

33

 

Capital lease obligations, non-current

 

$

2

 

 

 

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Summary of future minimum lease payments for all operating leases

 

Minimum future payments under all operating leases as of March 31, 2012, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Payments due by period

 

 

 

2012 (remainder)

 

$

6,613

 

2013

 

8,206

 

2014

 

8,404

 

2015

 

6,814

 

2016

 

1,381

 

Thereafter

 

183

 

 

 

$

31,601

 

 

Rental expense for operating leases totaled $2.2 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Estimated sublease income of $857,000 is expected over the next four years of which $258,000 is anticipated to be received in the next 12 months.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are involved in litigation concerning consumer protection, employment, intellectual property and other commercial matters related to the conduct and operation of our business and the sale of products on our Website. In connection with such litigation, we may be subject to significant damages. In some instances other parties may have contractual indemnification obligations to us. However, such contractual obligations may prove unenforceable or non-collectible, and in the event we cannot enforce or collect on indemnification obligations, we may bear the full responsibility for damages, fees and costs resulting from such litigation. We may also

 

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be subject to equitable remedies and penalties. Such litigation could be costly and time consuming and could divert or distract our management and key personnel from our business operations. Due to the uncertainty of litigation and depending on the amount and the timing, an unfavorable resolution of some or all of these matters could materially affect our business, results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

 

On February 2, 2007, along with five shareholder plaintiffs, we filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco against Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman Sachs & Co., Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., Bank of America Securities LLC, Bank of New York, Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., and UBS Financial Services, Inc., and later amended the complaint to add Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. as a defendant. The suit alleged that the defendants, who controlled over 80% of the prime brokerage market, participated in an illegal stock market manipulation scheme and that the defendants had no intention of covering short sell orders with borrowed stock, as they are required to do, causing what are referred to as “fails to deliver” and that the defendants’ actions caused and continued to cause dramatic declines in the share price of our stock and that the amount of “fails to deliver” often exceeded our entire supply of outstanding shares. The suit accused the defendants of violations of California securities laws and common law and violations of California’s Unfair Business Practices Act. After it filed for bankruptcy on September 2008, we elected not to pursue our claims against Lehman Brothers Holdings. On July 23, 2009, the court sustained defendants’ demurrer to our amended causes of action for conversion and trespass to chattels. On December 15, 2010, we and the other plaintiffs in the case entered into a settlement agreement with certain of the defendants requiring these defendants to pay in the aggregate $4.5 million to plaintiffs. Other terms of settlement are confidential. At that time, remaining defendants in the suit were Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co., Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing L.P., (“Goldman Defendants”) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corporation (“Merrill Lynch Defendants), and Bank of America Securities LLC. On December 15, 2010, we filed a motion to amend our complaint against the Goldman and Merrill Lynch Defendants to add a cause of action based on the New Jersey Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act. Defendants challenged the RICO claim by demurrer and eventually the court sustained the demurrer. We thereafter entered a settlement agreement with Bank of America Securities LLC, the terms of which are confidential, and have dismissed the action as to that defendant. On August 19, 2011, the remaining defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. On January 10, 2012 the court granted the motion for summary judgment as to all remaining defendants and judgment has been entered. We intend to appeal. The defendants have the right to apply to the court (but have not yet done so) to seek reimbursement from us of their allowable court costs. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to any court costs ordered against us are described above.

 

On May 30, 2008 we filed a complaint in New York state court against the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, its Commissioner, the State of New York and its governor, alleging that a New York state tax law is unconstitutional. The effect of the New York law is to require Internet sellers to collect and remit New York sales taxes on their New York sales even if the seller has no New York tax “nexus” other than with New York based independent contractors who are Internet advertising affiliates. The complaint asks for the court to declare the law unconstitutional and enjoin its application to us. New York filed a motion to dismiss. We responded to the motion and filed a motion for summary judgment, and both motions were heard simultaneously. On January 12, 2009, the court granted New York’s motion to dismiss and denied our motion for summary judgment. We appealed the decision and on November 4, 2010 the New York Appellate Division upheld part of the lower court’s ruling rejecting our claims that the law is unconstitutional on its face, but remanded our claims that the law is unconstitutional as applied, for further discovery and proceedings in the lower court. We filed with the New York State Court of Appeals a motion of leave to appeal the portions of the decision upholding the lower court’s ruling. On March 15, 2011, the Appellate Division of the New York State Court of Appeals denied our motion for leave to appeal to the New York State Court of Appeals. We have determined not to pursue at the trial court level our claims that the law is unconstitutional as applied. We proceeded with an appeal to the New York State Court of Appeals of the Appellate Division’s ruling on our claim that the statute is unconstitutional on its face. On March 26, 2012, the court agreed to hear the case.

 

On August 12, 2008, we along with seven other defendants, were sued in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, by Sean Lane, and seventeen other individuals, on their own behalf and for others similarly in a class action suit, alleging violations of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, and California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Computer Crime Law. The complaint relates to our use of a product known as Facebook Beacon, created and provided to us by Facebook, Inc. Facebook Beacon provided the means for Facebook users to share purchasing data among their Facebook friends. The parties extended by agreement the time for defendants’ answer, including our answer, and thereafter, the Plaintiff and Facebook proposed a stipulated settlement to the court for approval, which would resolve the case without requirement of financial contribution from us. On March 17, 2010, over objections lodged by some parties, the court accepted the proposed settlement. Various parties objecting to the settlement have appealed and their appeal is now pending. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made.

 

On November 14, 2008, we filed suit in Ohio state court against the Ohio Tax Commissioner, the Ohio Attorney General and the Governor of Ohio, alleging the Ohio Commercial Activity Tax is unconstitutional. Enacted in 2005, Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax is based on activities in Ohio that contribute to production or gross income for a company whether or not the company has a physical presence in or nexus within the state. Our complaint asked for a judgment declaring the tax unconstitutional and for an injunction preventing any enforcement of the tax. The defendants moved to dismiss the case. On July 28, 2009, the trial court ruled that there was

 

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no justiciable controversy in the case, as we had not yet been assessed a tax, and it granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss. In September 2009, we received a letter of determination from the Ohio Department of Taxation noting the Department’s determination that we are required to register for remitting of the Commercial Activity Tax, and owe $612,784 in taxes, interest, and penalties as of June 30, 2009. The Ohio Department of Taxation issued additional estimated assessments of estimated tax, interest and penalties totaling $109,872 as of September 30, 2011.We have filed protests to challenge the Department’s Assessments on constitutional grounds and the matter is currently pending before the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Legal Division for administrative review and determination. A hearing on these matters was held November 18, 2011. No administrative ruling has been issued following the hearing. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. We believe the determinations to be unlawful and erroneous and are vigorously contesting the determination.

 

On March 10, 2009, we were sued in a class action filed in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. Cynthia Hines, the nominative plaintiff on behalf of herself and others similarly situated, seeks damages under claims for breach of contract, common law fraud and New York consumer fraud laws. The Plaintiff alleges we failed to properly disclose our returns policy to her and that we improperly imposed a “restocking” charge on her return of a vacuum cleaner. We filed a motion to dismiss based upon assertions that our agreement with our customers requires all such actions to be arbitrated in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alternatively, we asked that the case be transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Utah, so that arbitration may be compelled in that district. On September 8, 2009 the motion to dismiss or transfer was denied, the court stating that our browsewrap agreement was insufficient under New York law to establish an agreement with the customer to arbitrate disputes in Utah. On October 8, 2009, we filed a Notice of Appeal of the court’s ruling. The appeal was denied. On December 31, 2010 Hines filed an amended complaint. The amended complaint eliminated common law fraud claims and breach of contract claims and added claims for breach of Utah’s consumer protection statute and various other state consumer protection statutes. The amended complaint also asks for an injunction. The suit is in final discovery stages. We filed motions to dismiss and to decertify the class. The court has not ruled on these motions. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action.

 

On September 23, 2009, SpeedTrack, Inc. sued us along with 27 other defendants in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California. We are alleged to have infringed a patent covering search and categorization software. We believe that certain third party vendors of products and services sold to us are contractually obligated to indemnify us in this action. On November 11, 2009, the parties stipulated to stay all proceedings in the case until resolution of a the United States Patent and Trademark Office had concluded and resolved a reexamination of the patent in question, and also until a previously filed infringement action against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and other retailers resulted either in judgment or dismissal. Subsequently, the parties agreed to extend the time for defendants’ complaint answer until 21 days following a court order to lift the stay to which the parties stipulated. The United States Patent and Trademark Office resolved the reexamination of the patent in question in favor of SpeedTrack, Inc. The case remains stayed, pending the outcome of the infringement action against Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and other retailers. On February 22, 2012, the court in the Wal-Mart Stores case granted Wal-Mart Stores’ motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. The court also granted Speedtrack’s motion for summary judgment on patent validity. It is not known whether the summary judgments granted in the Wal-Mart Stores case will have an effect on the Speedtrack case in which we are named as one of the defendants. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On or about September 25, 2009, Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. filed suit against us and 12 other defendants in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. We are alleged to have infringed three patents purportedly related to a communications protocol between a user and server terminals, text input functionalities and search processes. We believe a third party vendor of search products and services sold to us is contractually obligated to indemnify us in this action as it pertains to the search patent. On October 14, 2011, a jury returned a verdict in our favor, finding non-infringement on all asserted claims, on all patents, and finding of invalidity of the Alcatel-Lucent patent, having to do with a communications protocol. On November 29, 2011, Alcatel-Lucent filed a motion for a new trial and for judgment as a matter of law. We have opposed the motion. The court has not ruled on the motion.

 

On May 11, 2010, Site Update Solutions, LLC filed suit against us and 34 other defendants in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas (now transferred to the Northern District of California) for infringement of a patent claiming “a process for maintaining ongoing registration for pages on a given search engine . . . a method to actively cause an updating of a specific Internet search engine database regarding a particular WWW resource.” We, along with other defendants, filed a motion to transfer venue. The court granted the motion, and the case is now transferred to the Northern District of California. We have answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors, if any.

 

On August 4, 2010, EON Corp. IP Holdings, LLC filed suit against us and 16 other defendants in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas for infringement of a patent covering a system and method for communicating between local subscriber units and a local base station repeater cell in a two-way communication interactive video network. We have settled this matter for a nominal amount and the case is now dismissed.

 

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On September 29, 2010, a trustee in bankruptcy filed against us an adversary proceeding in the matter of In re: Petters Company, Inc., a case filed in United States Bankruptcy Court, in the District of Minnesota. The complaint alleges principal causes of action against us under various Bankruptcy Code sections and the Minnesota Fraudulent Transfer Act, to recover damages for alleged transfers of property from the Petters Company occurring prior to the filing of the case initially as a civil receivership in October 2008. The trustee’s complaint alleges such transfers occurred in at least one note transaction whereby we transferred at least $2,300,000 and received in return transfers totaling at least $2,547,406. The trustee does not specify a date for the transactions; however we believe that any alleged transaction with the Petters Company would have taken place in excess of seven years from the date of the filing of the adversary proceeding. The case is in its early stages. We filed a motion to dismiss on statute of limitations and other grounds. The court has not ruled upon the motion to dismiss. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action.

 

On November 17, 2010 we were sued in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, by District Attorneys for the California Counties of Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Santa Clara, Shasta and Sonoma County, and the County of Santa Cruz recently joined the suit. These district attorneys seek damages and an injunction under claims for violations of California consumer protection laws, alleging we made untrue or misleading statements concerning our pricing, price reductions, sources of products and shipping charges. The complaint asks for damages in the amount of not less than $15 million. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. The suit is in the discovery stage. We intend to vigorously defend this action.

 

On September 11, 2011, Droplets, Inc. filed suit against us and eight other defendants in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas for infringement of a patent covering strings of programming code downloaded from a server to a client computer. We have answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On September 13, 2011, Select Retrieval, LLC filed suit against us and 79 other defendants in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for infringement of a patent covering the hierarchical display of interactive links on a webpage. We have filed a motion to dismiss. The motion is pending. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On November 18, 2011 Smartfit Solutions, LLC filed suit against us and 43 other defendants in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for infringement of a patent covering certain “methods for presenting exercise protocols to a user and evaluating the effectiveness of the same.” We have tendered the defense of this action to an indemnitor which has accepted the defense. We have answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On December 29, 2011 The Tobin Family Education and Health Foundation filed suit against us in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey for infringement of a patent covering a method and system for customizing marketing services on networks communication with hypertext tagging conventions. We have tendered the defense of this action to an indemnitor which has accepted the defense. We filed a motion to dismiss and the plaintiff amended the complaint. Subsequently, we filed a motion to transfer the case to the United States District Court for the District of Utah. We have not answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On January 27, 2012, Pragmatus Telecom, LLC filed suit against us in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for infringement of two patents covering a system for coordinating data and voice communications via customer contact channel changing system using voice over IP and infringement of one patent for coordinating data and voice communications via customer contact channel changing system. We have answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors.

 

On March 1, 2012, H-W Technology, L.C. filed suit against us in the United States District Court in the Northern District of Texas for infringement of a patent entitled “Internet Protocol (IP) Phone with Search and Advertising Capability.” We have been served, but have not yet answered the complaint. The case is in its early stages. The nature of the loss contingencies relating to claims that have been asserted against us are described above. However, no estimate of the loss or range of loss can be made. We intend to vigorously defend this action and pursue our indemnification rights with our vendors, if any.

 

On September 15, 2009, we received notice from the Salt Lake Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission

 

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(“SEC”) stating that the SEC is conducting an investigation concerning our previously-announced financial restatements of 2006 and 2008 and other matters. The subpoena accompanying the notice covers documents related to the restatements and also to our billings to our partners in the fourth quarter of 2008 and related collections, and our accounting for and implementation of software relating to our accounting for customer refunds and credits, including offsets to partners, and related matters. On March 30, 2012, the Salt Lake Regional Office of the SEC notified us by letter that it has closed its investigation of Overstock.com and it does not intend to recommend to the Commission any enforcement action against us.

 

We establish liabilities when a particular contingency is probable and estimable. As of March 31, 2012, we have accrued $2.9 million in light of these probable and estimable liabilities. It is reasonably possible that the actual losses may exceed our accrued liabilities.

 

We have other contingencies which are reasonably possible; however, the reasonably possible exposure to losses cannot currently be estimated.

 

6. INDEMNIFICATIONS AND GUARANTEES

 

During our normal course of business, we have made certain indemnities, commitments, and guarantees under which we may be required to make payments in relation to certain transactions. These indemnities include, but are not limited to, indemnities to various lessors in connection with facility leases for certain claims arising from such facility or lease, and indemnities to our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted under the laws of the State of Delaware. The duration of these indemnities, commitments, and guarantees varies, and in certain cases, is indefinite. In addition, the majority of these indemnities, commitments, and guarantees do not provide for any limitation of the maximum potential future payments we could be obligated to make. As such, we are unable to estimate with any reasonableness our potential exposure under these items. We have not recorded any liability for these indemnities, commitments, and guarantees in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We do, however, accrue for losses for any known contingent liability, including those that may arise from indemnification provisions, when future payment is both probable and reasonably estimable.

 

7. STOCK-BASED AWARDS

 

We have equity incentive plans that provide for the grant to employees of stock-based awards, including stock options and restricted stock.

 

Stock-based compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Stock options

 

$

3

 

$

150

 

Restricted stock awards

 

810

 

726

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

 

$

813

 

$

876

 

 

Restricted stock awards

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved grants of 688,000 restricted stock awards to our officers, board members and employees. The restricted stock awards vest over three years at 25% at the end of the first year, 25% at the end of the second year and 50% at the end of the third year and are subject to the recipient’s continuing service to us. At March 31, 2012, there were 996,000 unvested restricted stock awards that remained outstanding.

 

The cost of restricted stock awards is determined using the fair value of our common stock on the date of the grant, and compensation expense is recognized on a straight line basis over the three-year vesting schedule. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $6.78.

 

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The following table summarizes restricted stock award activity during the three months ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Units

 

Fair Value

 

Outstanding—beginning of year

 

522

 

$

13.40

 

Granted at fair value

 

688

 

6.78

 

Vested

 

(209

)

11.55

 

Forfeited

 

(5

)

9.53

 

Outstanding—end of period

 

996

 

$

9.23

 

 

8. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

Segment information has been prepared in accordance with ASC Topic 280 Segment Reporting. Segments were determined based on products and services provided by each segment. There were no inter-segment sales or transfers during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. We evaluate the performance of our segments and allocate resources to them based primarily on gross profit. The table below summarizes information about reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

Fulfillment

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

partner

 

Total

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue, net

 

$

40,897

 

$

221,470

 

$

262,367

 

Cost of goods sold

 

37,630

 

177,229

 

214,859

 

Gross profit

 

$

3,267

 

$

44,241

 

$

47,508

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

45,033

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

 

 

 

253

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue, net

 

$

48,161

 

$

217,309

 

$

265,470

 

Cost of goods sold

 

43,030

 

172,356

 

215,386

 

Gross profit

 

$

5,131

 

$

44,953

 

$

50,084

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

50,071

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

 

 

 

(435

)

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

$

(444

)

 

The direct segment includes revenues, direct costs, and cost allocations associated with sales fulfilled from our leased warehouses. Costs for this segment include product costs, outbound freight, warehousing and fulfillment costs, credit card fees and customer service costs.

 

The fulfillment partner segment includes revenues, direct costs and cost allocations associated with sales of merchandise of third parties over our Website, fulfilled from warehouses maintained by our fulfillment partners. Costs for this segment include product costs, outbound freight and fulfillment costs, credit card fees and customer service costs.

 

Assets have not been allocated between the segments for our internal management purposes and, as such, they are not presented here.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, over 99% of sales were made to customers in the United States of America. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all of our fixed assets were located in the United States of America.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are therefore entitled to the protection of the safe harbor provisions of these laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. The forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, all statements regarding:

 

·       the anticipated benefits and risks of our business and plans;

·       our ability to attract and retain customers in a cost-efficient manner;

·       the effectiveness of our marketing;

·       our future operating and financial results;

·       the competition we face and will face in our business;

·       the effects of government regulation;

·       our future capital requirements and our ability to satisfy our capital needs;

·       our expectations regarding the adequacy of our liquidity;

·       our ability to retire or refinance our debt;

·       our plans for international markets;

·       our plans for changes to our business;

·       our beliefs regarding current or future litigation or regulatory actions;

·       our beliefs and expectations regarding existing and future tax laws and related laws and the application of those laws to our business;

·       our beliefs regarding the adequacy of our insurance coverage;

·       the adequacy of our infrastructure, including our backup facilities and our disaster planning;

·       our belief that we can meet our published product shipping standards even during periods of relatively high sales activity;

·       our belief that we can maintain or improve upon customer service levels that we and our customers consider acceptable;

·       our beliefs regarding the adequacy of our order processing systems and our fulfillment and distribution capabilities;

·       our beliefs regarding the adequacy of our customer service capabilities;

·       our beliefs and expectations regarding the adequacy of our office and warehouse facilities;

·       our expectations regarding our travel shopping service, our insurance shopping service, our international sales efforts, our car listing service and our community site, and the anticipated functionality and results of operations of any of them;

·       our belief that we and our fulfillment partners will be able to maintain inventory levels at appropriate levels despite the seasonal nature of our business;

·       our belief that our sales through other ecommerce marketplace channels will be successful and become an important part of our business; and

·       our belief that we can successfully offer and sell a constantly changing mix of products and services.

 

Furthermore, in some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, could, should, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential or continue, the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider the risks outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, including those described in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors.” These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statement. Except as otherwise required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation to release publicly any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any of our forward-looking statements are based. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

 

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

 

Available Information

 

Our Internet Website addresses are www.overstock.com, www.o.co and www.o.biz. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through our Internet Website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Internet Website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not a part of or incorporated into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Overview

 

We are an online retailer offering discount brand name, non-brand name and closeout merchandise, including bed-and-bath goods, home décor, kitchenware, furniture, watches and jewelry, apparel, electronics and computers, sporting goods, and designer accessories, among other products. We are also a channel through which customers can purchase cars, insurance and travel products and services. We sell advertising. We also sell hundreds of thousands of best seller and current run books, magazines, CDs, DVDs and video games (“BMMG”) and also through other ecommerce marketplace websites. We sell these products and services through our Internet websites located at www.overstock.com, www.o.co and www.o.biz (“Website”). Although our three websites are located at different domain addresses, the technology and equipment and processes supporting the three websites and the process of order fulfillment described herein are the same for all three websites.

 

Our company, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was founded in 1997. We launched our initial website in March 1999. Our Website offers our customers an opportunity to shop for bargains conveniently, while offering our suppliers an alternative inventory liquidation or sales channel. We continually add new, sometimes limited, inventory products to our Website in order to create an atmosphere that encourages customers to visit frequently and purchase products before our inventory sells out. We sell products primarily in the United States, with a small amount of products (less than 1% of sales) sold internationally.

 

As used herein, “Overstock,” “Overstock.com,” “we,” “our” and similar terms include Overstock.com, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

Executive Commentary

 

This executive commentary is intended to provide investors with a view of our business through the eyes of our management. As an executive commentary, it necessarily focuses on selected aspects of our business. This executive commentary is intended as a supplement to, but not a substitute for, the more detailed discussion of our business included elsewhere herein. Investors are cautioned to read our entire “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, as well as our interim and audited financial statements, and the discussion of our business and risk factors and other information included elsewhere or incorporated in this report. This executive commentary includes forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned to read the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

We had net income of $2.7 million in Q1 2012 versus a net loss of $0.4 million in Q1 2011. While Contribution (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of Contribution to Gross Profit) was down $1.6 million in Q1 2012, we were able to more than offset this decline with a $4.2 million reduction in Technology and General and Administrative expenses. Efforts to appropriately size the expense structure that began in Q4 2011 are now providing benefits as compensation costs included in operating expenses decreased by $3.6 million in Q1 2012, compared to Q1 2011. Legal costs also decreased $0.7 million in Q1 2012, compared to Q1 2011.

 

On March 2, 2012 during our Q4 2011 earnings conference call, our CEO, Dr. Patrick Byrne discussed how our marketing efforts had “stumbled.” Throughout 2011, we experienced a decline in unique visits and new customer acquisition. We have focused in Q1 2012 on our marketing, and we have seen evidence of improvement. While total net revenue decreased 1% this quarter on a year-over-year basis, unique visits increased by 10% and new customer growth increased by 3%. This growth in visits over 2011 is also partially due to the decline in visits during Q1 2011 from the Google penalty we experienced. However, lower conversion rates more than offset the benefits of increased visits to the website and higher average order size.

 

We have completed an extensive analysis of our marketing strategy, organization and processes during the quarter, and have made a number of adjustments and improvements, including hiring a new Senior Vice President of Marketing.

 

In January of this year, we eliminated a number of current and open positions from corporate staff and at March 31, 2012, headcount was lower by approximately 140 corporate employees from one year ago. This resulted in a savings of compensation-related expenses of $3.6 million in Q1. This is part of a cost saving initiative that we have implemented throughout the company. Our customer service organization is operating at a high service level but with fewer employees this year, and we have reduced costs in our marketing organization as we seek to run our marketing campaigns more efficiently. Legal expenses are 61% lower than they were in Q4 2011, and compared to Q1 2011 they are down 24%. Largely as a result of this expense control, net income increased year-over-year by nearly $3.2 million to $2.7 million.

 

Our fulfillment partner business continues to become a larger share of our total revenues. Nearly 85% of our revenues were fulfilled by our fulfillment partners in Q1 2012. As a result, we are able to operate the business with less inventory and we are converting revenues into cash on average nearly eight days before we pay our suppliers. This has reduced the demands on our own capital to operate the business. It has helped us to generate positive operating cash flows on a trailing twelve month basis every quarter for the past several years. Our working capital improved from $(14.1) million at December 31, 2011 to $(9.0) million at March 31. 2012.

 

The balance of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations provides further

 

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information about the matters discussed above and other important matters affecting our business.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations expressed as a percentage of total net revenue:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(as a percentage of total
revenue)

 

Revenue, net

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

15.6

%

18.1

%

Fulfillment partner

 

84.4

 

81.9

 

Total net revenue

 

100.0

 

100.0

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

14.3

 

16.2

 

Fulfillment partner

 

67.6

 

64.9

 

Total cost of goods sold

 

81.9

 

81.1

 

Gross profit

 

18.1

 

18.9

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

5.5

 

5.8

 

Technology

 

6.0

 

6.3

 

General and administrative

 

5.6

 

6.8

 

Restructuring

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

17.2

 

18.9

 

Operating income

 

0.9

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(0.1

)

(0.3

)

Other income, net

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

Net income (loss) before income taxes

 

1.0

 

(0.2

)

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

1.0

%

(0.2

)%

 

Comparisons of Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

Revenue

 

The following table reflects our net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

Revenue, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

40,897

 

$

48,161

 

$

(7,264

)

(15.1

)%

Fulfillment partner

 

221,470

 

217,309

 

4,161

 

1.9

%

Total revenue, net

 

$

262,367

 

$

265,470

 

$

(3,103

)

(1.2

)%

 

The primary reasons for decreased total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were lower conversion rates, resulting in fewer orders compared to last year, partially offset by increases in unique visitors and average order size.

 

The primary reason for the decrease in direct revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was a shift in sales mix, particularly in clothing and shoes, from a direct inventory-based model to a fulfillment partner-based model to reduce exposure from seasonal inventory and mark downs.

 

The primary reason for the increase in fulfillment partner revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was an increase in sales of home and garden products, and the shift in sales mix, particularly in clothing and shoes, from a direct inventory-based model to a fulfillment partner-based model.

 

The shift of business from direct to fulfillment partner (or vice versa) is an economic decision based on the economics of each

 

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particular product offering at the time and we do not have particular goals for “appropriate” mix or percentages for the size of either. We believe that the mix of the business between direct and fulfillment partner is consistent with our strategic objectives for our business model in the current economic environment and with the exception of a transition of some of our direct clothing and shoes category to a fulfillment partner model to reduce our seasonal inventory risks, we do not currently foresee any material shifts in mix.

 

Total revenues from international sales were $2.3 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Change in estimate of average transit times (days)

 

Revenue related to merchandise sales is recognized upon delivery to our customers. As we ship high volumes of packages through multiple carriers, it is not practical for us to track the actual delivery date of each shipment. Therefore, we use estimates to determine which shipments are delivered and, therefore, recognized as revenue at the end of the period. Our delivery date estimates are based on average shipping transit times. We review and update our estimates on a quarterly basis based on our actual transit time experience. However, actual shipping times may differ from our estimates.

 

The following table shows the effect that hypothetical changes in the estimate of average shipping transit times would have had on the reported amount of revenue and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,  2012

 

Change in the

 

Increase

 

Increase

 

Estimate of Average

 

(Decrease)

 

(Decrease) Net

 

Transit Times (Days)

 

Revenue

 

Income

 

2

 

$

(9,791

)

$

(1,571

)

1

 

$

(4,738

)

$

(738

)

As reported

 

As reported

 

As reported

 

-1

 

$

3,113

 

$

504

 

-2

 

$

5,716

 

$

927

 

 

See “Executive Commentary” above for additional discussion regarding revenue.

 

Gross profit and gross margin

 

Our overall gross margins fluctuate based on our sales volume mix between our direct business and fulfillment partner business; changes in vendor and / or customer pricing, including competitive pricing; inventory management decisions within the direct business; sales coupons and promotions; product mix of sales; and operational and fulfillment costs.

 

The following table reflects our net revenues, cost of goods sold and gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

Revenue, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

40,897

 

$

48,161

 

$

(7,264

)

(15.1

)%

Fulfillment partner

 

221,470

 

217,309

 

4,161

 

1.9

%

Total net revenues

 

$

262,367

 

$

265,470

 

$

(3,103

)

(1.2

)%

Cost of goods sold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

37,630

 

$

43,030

 

$

(5,400

)

(12.5

)%

Fulfillment partner

 

177,229

 

172,356

 

4,873

 

2.8

%

Total cost of goods sold

 

$

214,859

 

$

215,386

 

$

(527

)

(0.2

)%

Gross Profit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct

 

$

3,267

 

$

5,131

 

$

(1,864

)

(36.3

)%

Fulfillment partner

 

44,241

 

44,953

 

(712

)

(1.6

)%

Total gross profit

 

$

47,508

 

$

50,084

 

$

(2,576

)

(5.1

)%

 

Gross margins for the past five quarterly periods and fiscal year ending 2011 were:

 

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Q1 2011

 

Q2 2011

 

Q3 2011

 

Q4 2011

 

FY 2011

 

Q1 2012

 

Direct

 

10.7

%

9.6

%

6.6

%

7.0

%

8.5

%

8.0

%

Fulfillment Partner

 

20.7

%

18.1

%

17.6

%

17.8

%

18.5

%

20.0

%

Combined

 

18.9

%

16.9

%

16.0

%

16.2

%

17.0

%

18.1

%

 

The 270 basis point decrease in direct gross margin for the three months ended March 31, 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011 is primarily due to higher freight and warehouse costs as a percentage of revenue, partially offset by pricing initiatives, lower credit card and customer service costs.

 

The 70 basis point decrease in fulfillment partner gross margin for the three months ended March 31, 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011 is primarily due to higher returns-related costs and freight costs, partially offset by lower credit card and customer service costs.

 

The other factors described above, such as coupons, promotions and operational costs did not have a significant impact on the change in gross profit.

 

Cost of goods sold includes stock-based compensation expense of $60,000 and $42,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

See “Executive Commentary” above for additional discussion.

 

Operating expenses

 

Sales and marketing expenses

 

We advertise through a number of targeted online marketing channels, such as sponsored search, affiliate marketing, portal advertising, e-mail campaigns, and other initiatives. We also use nationwide television, print and radio advertising campaigns to promote sales.

 

The following table reflects our sales and marketing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

Sales and marketing expenses

 

$

14,475

 

$

15,425

 

$

(950

)

(6.2

)%

Sales and marketing expenses as a percent of net revenues

 

5.5

%

5.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased by 30 basis points for the three months ended March 31, 2012. This is primarily due to decreases in spending for television advertising, and lower compensation-related costs primarily due to lower headcount.

 

Sales and marketing expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $101,000 and $106,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Costs associated with our discounted shipping and other promotions, such as coupons, are not included in marketing expense. Rather they are accounted for as a reduction of revenue and therefore affect sales and gross margin. We consider discounted shipping and other promotions as an effective marketing tool, and intend to continue to offer them as we deem appropriate as part of our overall marketing plan.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Technology expenses

 

The following table reflects our technology expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended 
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

Technology expenses

 

$

15,638

 

$

16,660

 

$

(1,022

)

(6.1

)%

Technology expenses as a percent of net revenues

 

6.0

%

6.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

The $1.0 million decrease for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is primarily due to decreases in compensation and recruiting related costs primarily from lower headcount.

 

Technology expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $176,000 and $189,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

General and administrative expenses

 

The following table reflects our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

14,822

 

$

17,986

 

$

(3,164

)

(17.6

)%

General and administrative expenses as a percent of net revenues

 

5.6

%

6.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

The $3.2 million decrease in general and administrative expenses (“G&A”) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is primarily due to decreases in legal fees and compensation-related costs primarily due to lower headcount.

 

G&A expenses include stock-based compensation expense of approximately $476,000 and $539,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Restructuring

 

We incurred $98,000 of lease termination costs during the three months ended March 31, 2012 due to changes in the estimate of sublease income as a result of our entering into a revised agreement with a sublessee and ceasing the use of one of our office facilities. There were no restructuring charges or reversals during the three months ended March 31, 2011.

 

Depreciation expense

 

Depreciation expense is classified within the corresponding operating expense categories on the consolidated statements of operations as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cost of goods sold - direct

 

$

108

 

$

229

 

Technology

 

3,598

 

3,481

 

General and administrative

 

328

 

289

 

Total depreciation and amortization, including internal-use software and website development

 

$

4,034

 

$

3,999

 

 

Non-operating income (expense)

 

Interest income

 

Interest income is primarily derived from the investment of our cash in cash equivalents and short-term investments. Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $29,000 and $52,000, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Interest expense

 

Interest expense is nearly all related to interest incurred on our Senior Notes, finance obligations, line of credit and our capital leases. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $208,000 and $676,000, respectively. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to the extinguishment of all of our outstanding Senior Notes and finance obligations during 2011.

 

Other income, net

 

Other income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $432,000 and $189,000, respectively. The increase in other income, net is primarily due to increased gift card and Club O rewards breakage.

 

Income taxes

 

Our provisions for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 totaled $9,000 and $22,000, respectively. The provisions for income taxes are for minimum state tax payments and certain income tax uncertainties, including penalties and interest.

 

Seasonality

 

Based upon our historical experience, revenue typically increases during the fourth quarter because of the holiday retail season. The actual quarterly results for each quarter could differ materially depending upon consumer preferences, availability of product and competition, among other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that seasonal variations will not materially affect our results of operations in the future.

 

The following table reflects our total net revenues for each of the quarters since 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

First
Quarter

 

Second
Quarter

 

Third
Quarter

 

Fourth
Quarter

 

2012

 

$

262,367

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

2011

 

$

265,470

 

$

234,992

 

$

239,738

 

$

314,077

 

2010

 

$

264,330

 

$

231,253

 

$

245,420

 

$

348,870

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Current sources of liquidity

 

While we believe that the cash and cash equivalents currently on hand, amounts available under our credit facility and expected cash flows from future operations will be sufficient to continue operations for at least the next twelve months; we may require additional financing. Our $20 million credit facility with U.S. Bank is scheduled to terminate on December 31, 2012. Although we have $20 million on deposit with U.S. Bank, and may repay and terminate the facility, we may attempt to renegotiate the facility or replace it. There can be no assurance we will be able to do so. There can be no assurance that if additional financing is necessary it will be available, or, if available, that such financing can be obtained on satisfactory terms. Failure to generate sufficient revenues, profits or to raise additional capital could have a material adverse effect on our operations and on our ability to achieve our intended business objectives. Any projections of future cash needs and cash flows are subject to substantial uncertainty.

 

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash flows generated from operations, and our existing cash and cash equivalents. At March 31, 2012, our cash and cash equivalents balance was $72.1 million.

 

Cash flow information is as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

Twelve months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

(22,234

)

$

(9,228

)

$

12,657

 

$

35,260

 

Investing activities

 

(2,048

)

(1,715

)

(9,238

)

(19,919

)

Financing activities

 

(598

)

(12,802

)

(31,590

)

(21,267

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Free Cash Flow.

 

“Free Cash Flow” (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, was $(24.4) million and $(10.9) million, respectively and $3.5 million and $17.5 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities.

 

Cash flows from operating activities.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, our operating activities resulted in net cash outflows of $22.2 million and $9.2 million, respectively.

 

Cash received from customers generally corresponds to our net revenues as our customers primarily use credit cards to buy from us causing our receivables from these sales transactions to settle quickly. We have payment terms with our fulfillment partners that generally extend beyond the amount of time necessary to collect proceeds from our customers. As a result, following our typically seasonally strong fourth quarter sales, at December 31 of each year, our cash, cash equivalents and accounts payable balances normally reach their highest level (other than as a result of cash flows provided by or used in investing and financing activities). However, our accounts payable balance normally declines during the first three months following year-end, which normally results in a decline in our cash and cash equivalents balances from the year-end balance. The seasonality of our business causes payables and accruals to grow significantly in the fourth quarter, and then decrease in the first quarter when they are paid.

 

The $22.2 million of net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was primarily for payments of accounts payable of $27.6 million following the holiday season and a decrease in accrued liabilities of $12.2 million, partially offset by a decrease of $6.3 million in inventories, a decrease of $3.2 million in prepaid and other assets and net income of $2.7 million.

 

The $9.2 million of net cash used in operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2011 was primarily for payments of accounts payable of $28.0 million following the holiday season and a decrease in accrued liabilities of $3.3 million primarily due to a reduction of allowance for sales returns, partially offset by a decrease of $12.0 million in inventories and collection of accounts receivable of $5.7 million.

 

Cash flows from investing activities.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, investing activities resulted in net cash outflows of $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively, resulting primarily from expenditures for fixed assets.

 

Cash flows from financing activities.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, financing activities resulted in net cash outflows of $598,000 and $12.8 million, respectively.

 

The $598,000 used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 resulted primarily from $464,000 for the purchase of shares of our common stock withheld for minimum tax withholdings upon the vesting of a portion of certain restricted stock award grants and payments on capital lease obligations and direct finance arrangements.

 

The $12.8 million used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2011 resulted primarily from $10.1 million used for retirement of long-term debt, $1.6 million for the purchase of shares of our common stock withheld for minimum tax withholdings upon the vesting of a portion of certain restricted stock award grants and $979,000 in payments on finance obligations.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2012 and the effect such obligations and commitments are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods (in thousands):

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

Contractual Obligations

 

2012

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Capital lease obligations

 

34

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

37

 

Line of credit

 

17,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,000

 

Interest on line of credit

 

351

 

 

 

 

 

 

351

 

Operating leases

 

6,613

 

8,206

 

8,404

 

6,814

 

1,381

 

183

 

31,601

 

Naming rights

 

1,236

 

1,273

 

1,311

 

1,351

 

1,391

 

 

6,562

 

Purchase obligations

 

23,860

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,860

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

49,094

 

$

9,482

 

$

9,715

 

$

8,165

 

$

2,772

 

$

183

 

$

79,411

 

 

 

 

Amounts of Commitment Expiration Per Period

 

Other Commercial Commitments

 

2012

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Letters of credit

 

$

2,028

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,028

 

 

Naming Rights

 

During 2011, we entered into a six-year agreement with the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority (“OACCA”) for the right to name Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Amounts represent annual payments due OACCA for the naming rights and we may terminate this agreement at our sole option, subject to its termination fee.

 

Purchase obligations

 

The amount of purchase obligations shown above is based on assumptions regarding the legal enforceability against us of purchase orders we had outstanding at March 31, 2012. Under different assumptions regarding our rights to cancel our purchase orders or different assumptions regarding the enforceability of the purchase orders under applicable law, the amount of purchase obligations shown in the table above would be less.

 

Tax Contingencies

 

Our contractual obligations presented above exclude unrecognized tax contingencies, including interest and penalties, of $318,000 for which we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of payment.

 

Recommendation Algorithm Development Costs

 

During 2011, we announced two contests offering cash prizes of up to $1.3 million for each contest period to the researcher or research team who can design and develop a recommendation algorithm which provides a minimum 1% increase in sales as compared to our existing algorithm. The contest periods originally were to end March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012; however, the first contest period was extended and now ends on June 18, 2012. The cash prizes, if any, would be awarded at those times.

 

Borrowings

 

U.S. Bank Financing Agreements

 

We are a party to a Financing Agreement with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) dated December 22, 2009 (as amended to date, the “Financing Agreement”). The maximum credit potentially available under the revolving facility is $20 million. Our obligations under the Financing Agreement and all related agreements are secured by all or substantially all of our assets, excluding our interest in certain litigation. Subject to certain exceptions, the full amount of the revolving facility is expected to be available to us as long as $20 million in the aggregate is maintained on deposit with U.S. Bank. At March 31, 2012 and at the date of this report we maintain $20 million on deposit with U.S. Bank. The obligation of U.S. Bank to make advances under the Financing Agreement is subject to the conditions set forth in the Financing Agreement.

 

Our failure to keep at least $20 million on deposit in certain accounts with U.S. Bank would constitute a “triggering event” under the Financing Agreement. If a triggering event occurs, we would become subject to financial covenants (i) limiting our capital expenditures to $20 million annually, and (ii) requiring us to maintain a Financing Agreement defined fixed charges coverage ratio of at least 1.10 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter for the period of the prior four quarters. The occurrence of a triggering event could also result in a decrease in the amount available to us under the non cash-collateralized portion of the facility, as availability would then depend, in part, on the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Financing Agreement).

 

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Table of Contents

 

The stated termination date of the Financing Agreement is December 31, 2012. The maximum amount potentially available under the Financing Agreement is $20 million, limited to $3 million for cash-collateralized letters of credit and other financial accommodations, and $17 million for advances supported by our non-cash collateral.

 

Advances under the Financing Agreement bear interest at one-month LIBOR plus 2.5%. The interest rate for borrowings under the Financing Agreement was 2.75% at March 31, 2012. We have also entered into an interest rate cap agreement with U.S. Bank with an effective date of October 1, 2011 limiting our exposure for one-month LIBOR at 0.5% for the term of the Financing Agreement.

 

The Financing Agreement includes affirmative covenants and negative covenants that prohibit a variety of actions without the approval of U.S. Bank, including, without limitation, covenants that (subject to certain exceptions) limit our ability to (a) incur or guarantee debt or enter into indemnity agreements, (b) create or permit liens, (c) enter into any merger or consolidation or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets of another person or the assets comprising any line of business or business unit of another person, (d) except for permitted acquisitions, purchase the securities of, create, invest in, or form any subsidiary (other than permitted subsidiaries) or other entity, (e) make loans or advances, (f) purchase, acquire or redeem shares of our capital stock or other securities, (g) change our capital structure or issue any new class of capital stock, (h) change our business objectives, purposes or operations in a manner which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, (i) change our fiscal year, (j) enter into transactions with affiliates (other than in connection with allowed intercompany transactions), (k) sell assets except for the sale of inventory or equipment in the ordinary course of business, (l) permit judgments to be rendered against us in excess of certain limits or having specified effects, depending in part on whether a triggering event has occurred or would occur, (m) take certain actions regarding our receivables, and (n) take certain actions regarding our inventory.

 

Amounts outstanding under the Financing Agreement were $17.0 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and letters of credit totaling $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, were issued on our behalf collateralized by compensating cash balances held at U.S. Bank, which are included in Restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At March 31, 2012, we had $20.0 million in compensating cash balances held at U.S. Bank. If we draw on the $20.0 million compensating cash balance, it will constitute a triggering event and result in additional and more restrictive covenants.

 

U.S. Bank Commercial Purchasing Card Agreement

 

We have a commercial purchasing card (the “Purchasing Card”) agreement with U.S. Bank. We use the Purchasing Card for business purpose purchasing and must pay it in full each month. At March 31, 2012, $3.1 million was outstanding and $1.9 million was available under the Purchasing Card. At December 31, 2011, $3.4 million was outstanding and $1.6 million was available under the Purchasing Card.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that would be material to investors.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of our financial statements requires that we make estimates and judgments. We base these on historical experience and on other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. Our critical accounting policies are discussed in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2011. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies previously disclosed in that report.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Regulation G, Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures, and other SEC regulations regulate the disclosure of certain non-GAAP financial information.

 

Contribution and Contribution Margin.

 

Contribution (a non-GAAP financial measure) (which we reconcile to “Gross profit” in our statement of operations) consists of gross profit less sales and marketing expense and reflects an additional way of viewing our results. Contribution Margin is Contribution as a percentage of revenues. When viewed with our GAAP gross profit less sales and marketing expenses, we believe Contribution and Contribution margin provides management and users of the financial statements information about our ability to cover our fixed operating costs, such as technology and general and administrative expenses. Contribution and Contribution Margin are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial

 

30



Table of Contents

 

measures. You should review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure. The material limitation associated with the use of Contribution is that it is an incomplete measure of profitability as it does not include all operating expenses or non-operating income and expenses. Management compensates for these limitations when using this measure by looking at other GAAP measures, such as operating income (loss) and net income (loss).

 

For further details on Contribution and Contribution Margin, see the calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Total net revenue

 

$

262,367

 

100

%

$

265,470

 

100

%

Cost of goods sold

 

214,859

 

81.9

%

215,386

 

81.1

%

Gross profit

 

47,508

 

18.1

%

50,084

 

18.9

%

Less: Sales and marketing expense

 

14,475

 

5.5

%

15,425

 

5.8

%

Contribution and contribution margin

 

$

33,033

 

12.6

%

$

34,659

 

13.1

%

 

Free Cash Flow.

 

Free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) reflects an additional way of viewing our cash flows and liquidity that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows and liquidity. Free cash flow, which we reconcile to “Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities”, is cash flows from operations reduced by “Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development.” We believe that cash flows from operating activities is an important measure, since it includes both the cash impact of the continuing operations of the business and changes in the balance sheet that impact cash. However, we believe free cash flow is a useful measure to evaluate our business since purchases of fixed assets are a necessary component of ongoing operations and free cash flow measures the amount of cash we have available for future investment, debt retirement or other changes to our capital structure after we have paid all of our expenses. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a complement to our entire consolidated statements of cash flows as calculated below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three months ended
March 31,

 

Twelve months ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(22,234

)

$

(9,228

)

$

12,657

 

$

35,260

 

Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development

 

(2,127

)

(1,676

)

(9,192

)

(17,721

)

Free cash flow

 

$

(24,361

)

$

(10,904

)

$

3,465

 

$

17,539

 

 

Government Regulation

 

Our services are subject to federal and state consumer protection laws including laws protecting the privacy of consumer information and regulations prohibiting unfair and deceptive trade practices. In particular, under federal and state financial privacy laws and regulations, we must provide notice to consumers of our policies on sharing non-public information with third parties, advance notice of any changes to our policies and, with limited exceptions, we must give consumers the right to prevent sharing of their non-public personal information with unaffiliated third parties. Furthermore, the growth and demand for online commerce could result in more stringent consumer protection laws that impose additional compliance burdens on online companies. These consumer protection laws could result in substantial compliance costs.

 

In many states, there is currently great uncertainty whether or how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, libel and personal privacy apply to the Internet and commercial online services. These issues may take years to resolve. In addition, new state tax regulations in states where we do not now collect state and local taxes, may subject us to the obligation to collect and remit state and local taxes , or subject us to additional state and local sales and income taxes, or to requirements intended to assist states with their tax collection efforts. New legislation or regulation, the application of laws and regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to our business or the application of existing laws and regulations to the Internet and commercial online services could result in significant additional taxes on our business. These taxes could have an adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations. Furthermore, there is a possibility that we may be subject to significant fines or other payments for any pas